A/N I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! I'm sorry to all you Junior and Kris fans and Junior and Laura fans, but I promise Junior will get a girlfriend too. I hope you like this next chapter:

This date was supposed to cheer Kris up, and all it's done was cause her more pain. Was bringing her back really such a good idea?

"I'm going to fix my make-up." Laura said.

She kissed Junior on the cheek and followed after Kris. Matt had a suddenly sicken feeling in his stomach that he should have tried to stop her.

In the bathroom Kris was standing in front of the sinks taking a few deeps breath trying to calm herself down. She didn't want to cry and give Laura the satisfaction of hurting her, so she had to get control and push her feelings back into the locked bottle that never got opened. Just when she finally managed to get control the door opened and Laura walked in. Kris glared at her. "What do you want?"

"I just came to fix my make-up. You should try it sometime."

"I don't need make-up. I have natural beauty. Too bad you weren't that lucky."

"Nobody has natural beauty, especially not ex-cons."

"I was a lot of things, but I was never a con."

"Fine, an ex-criminal then, whatever you are I don't care. You don't have any natural beauty."

"At least when I wear make-up I look better. All make up does to you is makes you look worse. A clown wears better make up than that."

"At least I have a mother and father who respect me and love me. Jean and Pablo don't even love you, and if we're being honest, Wildfire doesn't love you anymore either."

Kris fist started to shake, but she forced herself not to lash out. She would not let Laura provoke her into actually hitting her. "Don't you dare talk about Wildfire, you know nothing about him!"

"Neither do you, you abandon him, twice, how could you?"

"I know more about Wildfire than you do. Second, my relationship with Jean and Pablo is none of your business."

"They hate you just like your real parents do. You ruin lives, Kris. Everyone lives you ever entered you've ruined. Just look at your mother, a drug addict. Your father was smart he got out before you had a change to ruin him. Did you ever consider you're the reason your mother started drugs, did you ever consider you're the reason your father left, did you ever consider you're the reason RainTree fell into such a horrible debt, did you ever consider the reason Wildfire can't race anymore is because of you. You've ruined your mother's life, you've ruined Wildfire's life, and you've ruined the Ritter's life. I will not let you ruin Junior's."

Kris pushed all the hurt and pain of Laura's words into that locked bottle until all she felt nothing at all. "If anyone is going to ruin Junior's life, it's you, he hates all this fame and attention the wedding is getting and once he realizes that you're just a lying slut he'll break up with you."

Laura slapped Kris across the face. Kris grabbed her face in shock and growled.

"You're a life runnier, Kris Furillo, you ruined your mother's life and now you're going to ruin Matt's life." With that Laura turned to leave.

It was in that moment Kris decided for the rest of the date she'd remain completely and totally emotionless. So that's what she did. All her feeling were shoved into the tiny locked bottle and she walked out of the bathroom and over to the table with a fake smile on her face.

The date seemed to go by extremely slow and the time seemed to drag on forever but finally the date was over and Kris and Matt were finally back to the hotel. Kris didn't say a word the entire ride home. Matt was worried because, she didn't speak but she held onto his hand like it was her lifeline. She seemed very clingy that's what worried him the most because she wasn't normally very clingy at all.

They arrived at the hotel and Kris went right over to the bed and laid down on it curling to a fetal position. Matt went over sat down on the bed by her side.

"Baby, talk to me. What did Laura do or say to you?"

"If Junior told you to break up with me and gave you a good reason would you do it?" she asked trying and failing at hiding the whimper.

"No, of course not, I love you, Kris, I'd never leave you. Why are you asking me this?"

"If Laura told you I hit her and she had a bruise to prove it, would you believe her or me?"

"You, every time. No matter what."

"Even though I have a criminal background?"

"Did Laura call you a criminal?" Matt asked, a bit louder and angrier than he meant to.

Kris didn't answer. It gave Matt all the answers he needed.

"Kris you are not a criminal!"

Kris just rolled onto her side facing away from Matt.

"Kris, Baby, please talk to me, what's the matter?"

Kris ignored it. That last time she had shut down this much was when he first found her at the hotel. It scared Matt that she was pulling away again. "Hey," he cooed gently rubbing her back. "Sweetie, please, talk to me."

There was still no response. Matt sighed and lay down next to her. He pulled her into his arms and kissed the back of her hair. "I won't ever force you to talk, but I refuse to just sit around and let you be upset without comforting you or holding you." He kissed the back of her head again. "When you're ready to talk I'll be right here to listen. Until then I'm going to lay here with you and just hold you."

Thankfully Kris turned in his arms and snuggled closer to his chest. She still didn't speak, but Matt didn't care, she still reacted which meant she did hear him and she did register what he said. That's all he really cared about. He kissed her cheek and just laid there on his side with her close in his arms. His hands moved up and down her back giving her what comfort he could. He still had no idea what had happen all he knew was Kris was hurt and Laura was going to pay.

After a few minutes of silence, Kris looked up from his chest. "Matt…I'm sorry. I love you and I trust you more than anyone. You know that right?"

"Of course, Angel."

"I'm sorry, I just…I'm so used to being abused verbally that I also got used to just bottling it all up and acting like I didn't care. Between, Jean, and then Laura I just…I couldn't take anymore and the only way I knew how to protect myself was to just shut down, push everyone out and hide it."

"You do know you don't have to hide from me."

Kris nodded. "I do, I just needed that reminder. When you said that you wouldn't force me to talk but that you would just hold me until I was ready to, reminded of that. So thank you."

"Anytime. Do you want to talk about what happen?"

Kris inhaled and exhaled a shaky breath. "Laura just said some verbally abusive things to me that really hurt my feelings."

"About what?"

Kris shrugged. "Everything…anything. She knew more about my past than she let on. Mr. Davis had told her everything. She said that I…I ruined people's life and she wasn't going to let me ruin Junior's. She told me I ruined my mother's life and that I was the reason she turned to drugs. She told me I ruined Jean's life and that I'm the reason RainTree went into such bad debt. She said I'm the reason Wildfire can't race anymore. She said I…she said I was going to ruin your life."

"Oh, Kris, Baby, if anything you've saved my life. I wasn't happy without you."

"You and your mom fought every day since I got home..."

"Kris, my mom and I have been fighting ever since she turned RainTree into the Dude Ranch. It has nothing to do with you; my mom makes it that way hoping you'll leave. You didn't ruin my life. You never could."

"I know, but her words still hurt, everyone keeps telling me I don't know Wildfire or care about him…" Kris trialed off as her voice cracked.

Wildfire was Kris's one true weakness and he knew it. The easiest way to hurt Kris was through Wildfire and seems like everyone else knew it too.

"Kris, nobody else was willing to kidnap him just to save him from the slaughter house. Nobody else was willing to risk getting sent to jail to save Wildfire. Nobody else was willing to go against Dani's first choice doctor to stop Wildfire from being put down. Nobody else was willing to go against a cop to teach them how to train Wildfire through the course. Kris you've gone above and beyond for Wildfire. Nobody has the right to tell you that you don't know him or don't care about him because as far as I'm concerned you know him better than anyone else, even me."

"I abandon him."

"Like you had a choice? My mother kicked you out. She's the reason Wildfire doesn't race anymore, because she took racing from RainTree."

Kris sighed. "It wasn't just about Wildfire, she told me that once she and Junior got married she'd made sure Junior stopped being my friend and then he'd make you stop being my friend."

Matt shook his head. "That's not going to happen. Tomorrow you and I are meeting with Junior alone and telling him all this. There is no way he'll stay with her after he hears what awful things she said to you. "

Kris nodded softly.

"Now, are you going to smile for me or will I have to take drastic actions?"

Kris gave her best smile, Matt chuckled. "Close enough." He kissed her forehead. He reached behind him and turned off the lights.

"I love you, Kris. Don't ever forget that."

"I love you too, Matt. Thank you."

They kissed passionately on the lips. Once they broke apart they cuddled closer and fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning Matt woke up and saw Kris was all ready dressed.

"Going somewhere?" he asked.

"Work." She answered.

Matt sat up in bed. "I thought you had today off."

"I did, but Noah just called. He needs a hand so I'm going in just for the morning to help out, he said you can come if you want."

"Thanks but I should get back to the ranch. I've got at least three trial ride to go on, if my mom doesn't sign me up for more."

Kris nodded. "Ok, well…um…what time are we meeting Junior?"

"Around lunch time, I've got to call to make sure but that would be my guess. I'll pick you up at 12:30-ish."

Kris nodded again.

Matt stood up and went over to her. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. "You feeling ok today?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Better than last night but still not myself."

Matt sighed softly. "Would you feel better if I went to talk to Junior alone? Are you nervous about that?"

"No, I'll tell Junior, I just don't think he'll take it well."

Matt nodded softly and kissed her head. "You want a ride to work?"

She nodded. Matt kissed her forehead. "I love you, Kris. It's always going to be you and I will always be on your side. That's a promise."

He knew she was still hurting from yesterday and he wanted to give her that reminder that he was there for her.

"I know, Matt. I love you too. Thank you."

Matt took a quick shower before dropping them both off at where they needed to be. Matt worked fast and got everything done that he needed to do in record time because he wanted to get back to Kris as soon as possible.

Once he was finished with all his work he rushed inside to get cleaned up. He crashed into someone else sending them both to the floor.

"Sorry, that was my fault."

"It's all right, no harm done…"

Matt stood up to see Jesse.

"I'm sorry, I was in a hurry."

Jesse laughed. "It's all right. I'm fine. I'm happy to see you so excited again. It was a hard six months while Kris was gone."

Matt nodded. "Yeah that was rough…actually I wanted to talk to you about her."

"She's not feeling so much at home anymore is she?"

Matt shook his head. "She's regretting coming home and I don't want her to do that. So, I was just wondering if…well…the next time you had to go away for a while…if you wouldn't mind Kris and I house sitting, and living in the guest house? I just think it would help Kris feel more at home."

"I'm fine, but you'll have to convince your mother."

"Don't worry; I've been fighting with mom for too long. This time, I am going to take a stand. She won't make Kris feel worse than she already does. I'll make sure of it."

Jesse nodded. "All right, then. They house is yours. How soon can you move in?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to spend the next several months traveling and I leave tonight."

"Tomorrow morning it is."

"All right."

"Thank you!" Matt laughed.

He hugged his Uncle tightly and rushed to the bathroom to shower and go find Kris. This would sure put a smile on her face.

He arrived at the clinic as fast as possible and ran inside.

"Dani where is Kris!" he asked.

"Hi, Matt, how are you? My day is going great, thank you." Dani teased.

Matt chuckled. "Hey, Dani, sorry. I just got some great news and I can't wait to share it with Kris."

"She could sure use the good news." Dani sighed.

Matt sighed too. "She's still shut down?"

Dani nodded. "She's like a robot. She's doing what she has to do and she's hardly speaking to anyone. "

Matt nodded. "The double date last night didn't go as well as expected. Kris really was hurt by it."

"I had a feeling that's what it was. Laura came home crying last night, telling Junior it was the worst date ever and that Kris was so horrible to her and so mean and how Junior shouldn't be her friend anymore, on and on."

"Did Kris tell you her side?"

"No," Dani shook her head. "I don't need to hear it. I know who is right and who is wrong. I know, Kris, the only reason she'd say the things she did was if she was provoked. I know Laura provoked her first."

Matt smiled softly. "Thank you, Dani. It good we've got another person on our side."

"Yeah, but fair warning, Laura cried herself to sleep last night on Junior's shoulder so he's really angry. There is a good chance he won't believe you."

Matt sighed. "I know, but we have to try."

"You're hurting Kris, Matt. I can see it in her face. All it's going to take is one more thing to go wrong and she's gone. She's not going to stay someplace she isn't wanted or where she feels she causes trouble. If one more thing goes wrong because of her she's gone. So you need to be careful."

Matt shook his head. "I'm not going to let her go, again, Dani. If she leaves I'll chase her. She belongs here. We both know it."

"Yeah, we both know it, but Kris doesn't. That's the problem."

"Yeah, well once I share the good news she'll feel better."

"What good news?"

"I've found a way to get her back to RainTree."

"Wait, you mean living there?"

Matt nodded. "Uncle Jesse, gave me the guest house."

"Matt, that's great! Kris is going to so happy."

"I hope so." Matt sighed. "I really hope so."

Kris came out. She saw Matt and she smiled a little Matt smiled back. They shared a hug and a kiss.

"I've got some great news for you, Kris. I spoke to my Uncle Jesse and…"

"Later, Matt, we need to get going or we will be late." Kris sighed and pulled away. She looked to Dani. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Dani just nodded and smiled. "See ya, Kris. Just remember, I'm always on your side…even if my brother isn't."

Kris smiled softly and nodded. "Thank you."

She turned and walked out of the room. Matt sighed and said a small goodbye to Dani and went after her.

They arrived at the restaurant where they were meeting Junior and they were both nervous. They sat at the table waiting for Junior to show up.

"Matt, if Junior doesn't believe us…" Kris started softly.

"He will." Matt finished for her. "He has to."

"But if he doesn't…."

"Kris, stop. He's going to believe us."

Kris sighed and nodded. Deep down they both knew Junior was never going to believe them, but Matt, knew where Kris was headed with her questioning and he didn't want to hear her say the words. He knew if Junior didn't believe them and he stopped being their friends Kris would leave and blame herself for their no longer being friends and Matt couldn't handle that.

Junior arrived and sat down across from them. Before they could speak he spoke first looking at Kris. "Let's get down to business. Kris, you were a jerk to Laura last night, she told me everything, so don't try to deny it and she said she didn't want you at the wedding anymore." Then he looked to Matt. "You're still invited and you're still my best man you just need to find a different date…and maybe a different girlfriend."

Matt growled. "I don't want to come to your wedding. Because Laura is a liar, Laura was the jerk last night, Junior. She said some horrible stuff to Kris last night and it really hurt her feelings. So don't you dare act like this is all Kris's fault."

"Excuse me? Kris told Laura that a clown looked better with make-up on than she does."

"Did she tell you that she told me I was ugly without make-up? She also called me a criminal, Junior. She said because I was a criminal I could never be beautiful."

"Well…Kris, you did steal and break the law."

"Don't you dare call her a criminal! Matt growled. "You and I both know Kris did what she did to protect herself and others."

"Yeah, that's what she says. But we both know she changed while she was away and spent the entire six months making money by doing illegal horse racing. She never learned her lesson from the last time. She's going to ruin our friendship again just like she did last time."

"No, you're going to ruin our friendship! Junior, I'm your best friend do you really think I'd hurt you in this way if I didn't have to?"

"You'd do or say anything to keep, Kris happy. If Kris doesn't like Laura, you'll both come up with a reason to get me to break up with her."

"Junior, I'm the one who told you to marry her in the first place. Why would I all of sudden turn around and say no if I didn't have a good reason."

"Because Kris is a cry baby and you're weak when it comes to Kris, so whatever she says Laura did you'll believe even if it's not true."

"It is true, Junior. Laura was very verbally abusive towards Kris last night. Kris was really hurt by her and I thought for sure you'd believe me over her."

"Laura said you try to guilt me into believing you. She also told me that Kris told her she was going to try to break us up because she is jealous and she wants to have us both."

"Kris isn't like that Junior and you know it!"

"Maybe, I used to know her, and then she left for 6 months and didn't make any contact."

"Jean kicked her out, Junior, she didn't leave willingly."

"She was kicked out of RainTree, she could have come to stay with me or gotten a hotel somewhere."

"Your father would have called the cops on me before I got passed the front door and you know it!" Kris argued.

"So stay in a hotel."

"I had no money to do that, I barely had enough money to leave town!"

"You still left, you had other places to go other choices and you left town anyway. Plus it's not like we were together. You got together with Matt, behind my back, and not to mention the same day I lost R.J. As far as I'm concerned, Kris, you never changed. You're still the same criminal you were who left Camp Lagrange. People don't change."

"You're one to talk; does Laura know you used to be pig that slept with any girl you saw?" Kris asked, her voice cracking slightly.

"Actually, she does and she forgiven me for that because she knows I'm different now…let me rephrase that. Normally people can change. Criminal's don't ever change. Once a criminal, always a criminal. Don't come near me or Laura ever again."

Matt growled. "You used to be one of Kris's best friends. I thought for sure you'd believe her over Laura. Dani does."

"Dani has always liked Kris better, ever since Kris came back into town. That's just one of the many things Kris has messed up. Dani used to be best friends with Laura and now because of Kris, Dani hates her."

"Did you ever think you were the problem?" Matt asked.

"Look, I'm not going to fight with you Matt. You have a choice, you can pick me and you can find a new girlfriend and a hot date to bring to the wedding and still be my best man, or, you can pick Kris and our friendship is over."

Matt just glared. "There is no choice, Junior, if you were a real friend you wouldn't have said that." He looked to Kris and took her hand. "Let's go."

Kris and Matt stood up and everything came crashing down. Kris just took off in a run. Matt saw the tears streaming down her cheeks and he knew, that one more big moment, that Dani had mentioned, just happen. Kris couldn't take it anymore and she was going to leave again. Matt growled at Junior and took off after her.

The restaurant was across from the hotel they were staying at so they had decided to leave the car there and walk over, which right now, Matt was starting to regret. She was always faster than him and he'd never catch up with her. Hopefully he'd be able to reach the hotel before she left for good.

When he finally got to their room he saw Kris packing her suitcase. He went over to her and grabbed both her hands in his to stop her. "Kris, stop." He ordered gently.

"No, let me go!" she said struggling to pull her hands free.

"No, not until you agree to stop packing."

She struggled and growled when she couldn't get free. She stopped fighting and sighed. "Matt, I have to leave. Ever since I came back I've ruined your life. You and mom almost hate each other, you and Junior hate each other again after finally getting back together. Pablo will throw a party. Wildfire will stop running away. Don't you get it? Everyone will be better off without me here."

"You've done nothing but make my life better, Kris. You've helped me become so much happier. You've also saved more lives than just mine."

"Oh yeah? Name one life, other than yours I've saved?"

"I've got two, Wildfire and Flame, not to mention the other 11 horses in The Dirty Dozen. They would all be dead if you weren't here."

"Dani and Junior were there too. They helped saved them."

"If you hadn't suggested racing Flame we never would have found him living in such a horrible home. They would have died from starvation or worse."

"Noah saved Wildfire."

Matt shook his head. "If you hadn't been so stubborn and brought in that second doctor, Mom and Pablo would have had Wildfire put down. You saved his life again, Kris. That's twice now, you've saved him. You saved all the horses in The Dirty Dozen, but most important, you saved me. I was nothing without racing. You even said it yourself. I had that look that everything inside me is dying? Well, because of you, everything has been brought back to life. I'm happy again, you did that for me."

Kris sniffed back tears that were close to falling.

Matt let one hand go off hers and used his thumb to wipe away a lone tear from her cheek.

"My mother and I fighting, it's been happening for a long time. Long before you came back, Junior and I…he'll learn the truth soon enough. We're best friends; we always get back together in the end. You can't leave, Kris. If you do, I'll be forced to follow you and abandon the race horses."

"You'd really follow me?" Kris whimpered.

"I spent six months searching for you last time. This time is no different. I'd follow you anywhere and everywhere, Kris."

Kris smiled through her tears. "I love you." She whimpered.

Matt pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly to his chest and rubbed her back. "I love you too."

Kris pulled away and reached into her suitcase. She removed her clothes and was about to put them back into the draw. Matt stopped her. "Keep packing."

"What? Why?"

"We're moving out of this hotel."

"And to where?"

"The guest house in RainTree. I spoke with Uncle Jesse; he's going to be traveling for a while and gave me the guest house. Which means I get to say who is and who isn't allowed inside. You're moving back to RainTree, Kris, and this time, you're not leaving."

Tears filled Kris's eyes again.

"No, Kris, I wanted to make you happy." Matt said.

"I am, these are happy tears, Matt."

Matt smiled and they shared a hug.

"What about, Jean?"

"I own, part of RainTree. I have rights to allow you in and I'm going to stand up to my mom and tell her that. If she didn't feel the need to include me in turning RainTree into a Dude Ranch, I won't include her on this. She's going to listen to, Kris, this time; I won't let her hurt you."

Kris smiled softly and nodded. She finally realized it wasn't about her. It was about him feeling like he really was a part owner of RainTree and the power of making some choices for his own, and not obeying everything his mother said.

That night they packed their bags and all their stuff and went to bed early. They wanted to be up and out early to be in the guest house and ready to train Flame by 6. For the first time in a long time Kris slept with a smile on her face.

The next morning Kris and Matt were both super excited to go home. They got up, showered, and had a quick breakfast before signing out of the hotel and heading back to RainTree.

When they got there they spent some time unpacking and then relaxing for some time. After that it was back to work. Kris couldn't wait to train Flame, his times got better each run and Matt knew it was because Kris was getting the confidence in herself back. She was laughing again as she raced, smiling widely, just loving life again. It was a smile Matt hadn't seen in a long time.

They spent all day training, only taking small breaks to eat, and trained each horse and Wildfire didn't jump the paddock once, the entire day. Every break Kris would go and spend time with him and she and Matt would fool around. It was just like old times. Kris hadn't felt this happen in a very long time.

By the end of the day she was wiped out. She collapsed on the bed and groaned. Matt chuckled. "Happy to be home?"

"Very, I just forgot what it was like to spend an entire day training horses."

Matt chuckled. "We've had a very busy, very long day. Why don't you just take a nice hot shower and we can go to bed."

Kris nodded and got up and went into the bathroom. Matt used that time to leave and go next door to talk with his mother.

When he walked in she was in the kitchen.

"Matt, you're just in time for dinner." She said.

"Actually, I'm going to crash early. Kris and I have had a long day."

"I saw you out there, Flame is doing very well."

"Kris is doing good too."

Jean shrugged. "She's all right. Are you staying in tonight?"

"I'm going to the guest house, Kris is waiting for me, and before you say anything. Uncle Jesse gave it to me so I get to say who is allowed inside it and who isn't. Also, Mom, in case you forgot I owe part of RainTree and I'm finally going to take a stand and take what is mine! I own parts of this ranch and I'm allowed to say who is allowed on this ranch and who is not! Kris is going to stay in RainTree, Mom. You can hate it as much as you want but it won't change. I'm part owner and I say she stays."

"You should discuss it with me first."

"You mean like how you discussed turning this place into a Dude Ranch, with me?"

"Matt, I did what was best for RainTree."

"Yeah? Well, I am too. I don't want you anywhere near the Guest House. I want you to leave Kris alone. You've hurt her enough and she is finally happy again. So don't you dare think of going to send her home because if you do I will never forgive, and I'll take The Dirty Dozen, and Wildfire and I'll leave. You'll never see me again. From this moment on, we're business partners, nothing more and nothing less."

"Is this because of Kris?"

"No, it's because of you, because you don't include me on anything having to do with RainTree and you never listen to me when I try and explain to you how I feel about, Kris. If you're going to ignore me and my rights to this Ranch I'll do the same. Any choices I make concerning the ranch I will not ask your permission on. I will just do what I feel is best."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, but you do what you have to do and I'll do what I have to do."

Matt just nodded and left the house. Kris was finally back at RainTree where she belonged and he had finally stood up to his mother. Things were finally starting to get better. Matt couldn't help but smile as he walked out of the house. Finally standing up to his mother felt…good.

A/N Yay! Matt finally stood up to his mother! But will things continue to get better, or will they get worse? Leave me your thoughts in a review.

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